Snider bent on fostering Flyers' improvement

Flyers chairman Ed Snider indicated Monday that he's not pleased with the way his team has a habit of giving up third-period leads, like it did in a shootout loss Sunday to the Capitals. (Times staff / ERIC HARTLINE)

PHILADELPHIA — After a slow start, a coaching change and one burst of improvement, the Flyers have settled in as a team that could go either way.

They could retreat, as they have been doing on the road, where they have lost their last four. That includes Sunday in Washington, where they wasted a three-goal lead and lost, 5-4, in a shootout.

Or they could soar, as they have been at home, where they have won their last six and will engage the Caps in a rematch Tuesday at 7:30.

Put it this way, though: If they need some kind of a personnel boost to make that difference, their chairman will not provide an impediment.

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After practice Monday at the Wells Fargo Center, but before the franchise’s holiday party, Ed Snider reiterated his standard position that he will encourage and provide whatever is necessary for the Flyers to improve.

“I think we have to take a long, hard look at where we’re going,” said Snider, when asked if the Flyers need to add a part. “And we’re always doing that, and we’re going to continue to do it. Whatever we can do to help the team get over the hump, we’re going to do.”

Already having fired Peter Laviolette and replaced him with Craig Berube, Snider is running low on in-season options. Then again, he seems to be running low on patience, too.

“Obviously we are not happy with giving up third-period leads,” he said. “This is something I think can be corrected. That’s what we’re going to work to do, however we have to do it.”

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Though the losing goalie in the 5-4 meltdown Sunday, there were some mild indications Monday that Steve Mason will be back in the net for the Flyers Tuesday.

As expected, Berube refused to appoint a goalie, saying only “I’ll let you guys know tomorrow.” He did insist, however, that the Sunday result would not affect his goaltending rotation. “We are going to stick to our plan,” he said.

That concept was fine with Mason, who seemed anxious to take on the Capitals again Tuesday.

“I feel great,” he said. “I looked at the tape of the game and it was a very clean game. When I say ‘quiet,’ there were no unnecessary movements. Every move you make has a purpose. It was a very controlled game. There was just that one mistake at the end, and you just have to put that behind you right away and get ready for the next one.”

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The last time the Capitals were in the Wells Fargo Center, they handed the Flyers a 7-0 loss. Sunday, they rallied to beat the Flyers in a shootout.

For those reasons — and because it’s what the schedule says they must do — the Flyers are thankful for another shot at Washington Tuesday.

“I’m glad we’re playing them again right away,” Berube said. “They’re in our division. It’s a big game and it’s a real big test for us. I thought we were really good (Sunday) and had them where we wanted them. And we let them off the hook. That’s happened a few times this year.

“I talked to the team. We have to do better. We have to win those games. You can’t lose those points when you’re up goals late in games. Then teams tie it up and they end up stealing a point from us. We’ve got to win those games.”

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Despite the loss in Washington, the Flyers should be confident Tuesday when they try to run their home winning streak to seven.

The trick?

“Better starts,” Scott Hartnell said. “Playing 60 minutes. I think we’ve made it tough on teams when they’ve come in here. At the beginning of the year, we were a soft team to play against. We’ve been a lot harder on our sticks, a lot harder in battles.

“When you win battles and little plays throughout the whole game, all those things add up.”